I’m having trouble with my first layer on the Bambu Lab X1C, and I’d love some help diagnosing the issue. I’m printing a Gridfinity 4x5 container, but I’m noticing inconsistent adhesion and rough patches on some areas of the first layer. Some squares print well, while others have poor adhesion, rough extrusion, or inconsistent layering.
I’m using Eryone PETG Grey (dried) on a textured PEI plate with a purple glue stick.
Uneven first layer adhesion – some squares stick well, others don’t
Rough patches and inconsistent extrusion in some areas
Some squares look perfect, others have defects despite same settings
What I’ve Tried So Far:
Cleaning the PEI plate with IPA Ensuring the filament is dry Checking first layer calibration
Would Z-offset, flow rate, or another setting be the likely issue here?
I’ve attached an image showing the first layer issues. Let me know if more pictures or the .3mf file would help—I can upload them if needed.
Your plate looks either pretty worn out or like it has glue, probably try to replace it or clean the glue off. Also when you use IPA to clean the bed, you need to rinse it with it, not just let it evaporate.
Thanks for the reply! This is actually a new plate—the photo isn’t great, but the markings you see are from the glue stick and previous prints. When I wash it, it looks completely clean, but maybe I’m not cleaning it properly.
Right now, I wash it with dish soap, dry it out, and reapply the glue stick. Do you think I should try a different cleaning method, or could something else be affecting adhesion?
I definitely think it’s probably related to touching the build plate surface, because the areas that are around the outside are the only ones with bad adhesion, and those are typically where you would hold the plate. Are you making sure to not touch the build plate surface after washing? Also maybe try without glue.
Clean off that plate. PETG doesn’t need glue to stick or separate from the textured or smooth PEI plate. With the holographic plate PETG works, but you must make sure the plate is really, really clean.
I haven’t used a glue stick once in 12 years - just a month ago for the first time - and that’s only because there’s no other grip on an effect plate. But PEI? PETG normally sticks very(!) well.
So:
Wash the plate thoroughly(!) with warm water and dish soap
Do not touch the surface with greasy fingers afterwards (and yes, even the natural grease of the skin is sufficient for this)
Glue is not necessary
Simply wipe the plate briefly with IPA between prints
Repeat the process with warm water and dish soap every few prints, at some point you will have grease and other things on the plate again, which you will only smear with IPA at some point, but not remove.
Cleaning the plate properly and not applying glue made a huge difference! The print turned out great this time.
It seems like the issue was either: The glue itself causing adhesion issues, or How I handled the plate after washing—this time, I was extra careful not to touch it at all, even while rinsing and drying.
Here’s a photo of the latest print. Thanks for the help, everyone!
And if you ever print on an effect plate (these effects are just a big Stickers applied on a steel plate => slippery material): Bambulabs Liquid Glue is awesome. I also tried the normal glue stick, 3DLAC, … nothing works. With Bambus liquid glue, a single coating was enough and everythings works perfectly. Afterwards you just wash the print and the plate with water and everything’s gone - but the nice effect stays
Printer: Bambu Lab X1C
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The glue itself causing adhesion issues, or
How I handled the plate after washing—this time, I was extra careful not to touch it at all, even while rinsing and drying.
